Schalke bank on Raul to shoot down United

Schalke bank on Raul to shoot down United

Surprise semi-finalists Schalke 04 will look to talisman Raul to carve out a first-leg advantage when they put their 100 per cent home record on the line against Manchester United on Tuesday.

The former Spain striker and Champions League all-time top goalscorer has been at the heart of Schalke's run to the last four. After leaving Real Madrid last year after 16 trophy-rich seasons, Raul has scored five times for Schalke in the competition while the Bundesliga side have won five out of five at home.

United know all too well of Raul's qualities as a matchwinner, his two goals for Real at Old Trafford in 2000 knocking the English side out of the competition.

Schalke's demolition job on holders Inter Milan in the last eight will also have left United in no doubt that the German outfit are no soft option, a view that should be reinforced by their poor record against Bundesliga sides.

United look to break the German jinx

Although their most famous victory came over Bayern Munich in the 1999 final, United have lost all four of the two legged knockout ties they have played against German sides since the start of the Champions League in 1992.

"The German teams have always had a resilience and determination about them and that will be exactly the same on Tuesday," said Ferguson, whose side lost to Bayern in last year's quarter-finals.

"But we're going into this game with far more experience than in previous years and our experience away from home, and our record, in the last few years has been terrific," he added.